Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1887-01-06
EDMUND RANDOLPH.
Some Points Upon u Public Charac-
ter Very Littte Known.

ter very lutte huOWn'
Edmund Randolph, the first Attorney
General of the United States, was in tue
ear days of the republic a powerful
political factor, yet his history Is llttie
known. When he died he had fallen into
such disrespect that no obituarlst took
the pains to write his record. Gath"
the enterprising correspondent Of the
Cincinnati Enquirer, has took up his
record and finds that Randolph was one
of large family in Nlrg MIA whica
mad high social and political preten-
sions. They came from the south
of England, aud probably were OF Danish
descent, but whether derived from the
Norman French or the Apglo-Danish or
Scandinavian Is neither known nor I'M
portant. They We're prominent IN Nlr-
ginia, of propagatigeness, and were gem
orally of large bodily endowments, even
fine looking. Throughout the state at
the present day there are large numbers
OF these people, and in other parts OF the
country they are also found. The most
notable branch in our time mas been that
of the Randolphs Of New Jersey, repre-
scented by the late Gov. Randolph, VINO
WAS also United states Senator.
The best descriptions OF Edmund Ran
dolpn are TO be found N the writings OF
w Illiam Writ, who knew him personally
and was his competitor at the Virginia
bar. Mr.. Writ in the early years OF our
century removed from Maryland to Nlr-
gInia, and became Clerk of the Legisla-
tare, and atterward Chancellor OF the
state, but finally left politics TO support
his family In the practice OF law. De-
string TO become an orator, a. ora.
tory was OF more value at the bar
there than legal attainmenrs, Mr.. Writ
wrote series OF papers meant 70 describe
the nature OF oratory, winch he Illus
trated by descriptions of several OF the
characters at that time conspicuous In
Virginia, such as John Marshall, who
was then, or recently had been, a prac-
ticing lawyer, and Edmund Randolph.
He desired also TO describe Jefferson, but
was prevailed upon by one OF Jetierson's
followers To make his characters incon-
sistent; so ne toreb0re TO incur the epmi-
~ OF such a pugnaclous and Influential
parsonage.
In one OF his letters, which is published
by John =. Kennedy, Mr.. Writ tells Of his
proposal to sketch Jefferson and how ne
omitted to do SO. These letters came ont
IN newspaper under the uane OF The
British Spy" and, while Marshall and
Others accepted the pictures in them with
good grace, Edmund Randolph became in
t1aned with rage, and his e2otlsm was so
loud conversation that the whole series o.
1.-THE British Spy" papers mad Oeen written
for no other purpose than to Oellttlc him.
DIR. Wlrt said that he would on no aC-
count apologize TO Randolph, Tor whom
ne seems to nave retained neither intel
lectual nor contemporary respect. OF this
matter / will speak IL It's order.
Yet jefferson, in his correspondence,
maintains that Randolph was a shiliy.
shaily aud weak person, VINO could be
found on TWO sides OF every question, and
be attributes to Randolph the influence
which Hamilton Obtained in Washing
toms Cabinet. When the constitution
was adopted Mr.. Randolph, WAC mad paid
50 much attention to having il passed, be-
gan to oppose 1t. lie found IN Virginia
and else " here some persons who cOnsId-
cred that their personal influence, or the
influence OF their State, might be dIsp2r-
aged IN the national or absolute and Jn-
des ructible confederation.
The first Cabinet of w aehin2tou con-
tanned three Nlrgidians, significant in
stance OF graspIngnoSs. Here vas W ASH
lngson, tue President, OF course, sitting
In the Cabinet councils. There was Ed
mud Randolph, the Attorney General.
There was Thomas Jefferson, the Secre.
tary OF state. Had Gen. Washington not
been a just, independent and observing
man, he would have Deen dragged into a
line OF conduct winch must have de-
stroved his civil reputation. He mad no.
body to lean upon except his former staff
officer, Hamilton, VINO had studied law
alter the Revolutionary war, ard Gen.
Knox, his general Of artillery, WHO had a
sound head, but 20 particular acumen.
Here We pause and observe tuaU 1t was
probably fortunate for the United States
-s.sfa ftar
tween the close OfLOstiniles ana the aGop-
ton OF the constitution. IN that interval
men like Hamilton and John Marshall
stepped 0u5 OF the ranks OF Inc army and
mad time 10 study law ana view with
amusement the D0mOastic aud attitudn-
lzing influences OF Mr.. Randolph, who was
r4tired 70 subordinate place. tie seemed
10 have steadily declined after mis- preten-
sions. Finally he passed nearly out OF
nOUCe, and, as | nave SHOWN, dieu So o.
securely bGaJ there was no obituary biOg-
RAINY printed Of him In the news paper at
Richmond, and l NeHJ through the files
Tor a considerable period To see if the &C.
casion OF his death had not attracted
further attention, but found no eul0gistIc
mention. That is why our literature AZ
tue present time Is 50 destitute ofextend-
ed reference to MIN. dis own conJem.
pOrarie5 did not think it worth
while to portray or rejoice.
W men Hamilton died the whole country
broke out into sermons, eulogies and
memoirs. When Jonn Marshall died.
though he survived Edmund Randolph "A
thIId of century, he left such "a perma-
nent impression on the land that his life
has peen several times written, and his
statue was planted in front OF the capitol
as a complement to that Of Washington.
nearly twenty years after the civil war.
rThn Shnnniny ptHL. hl.lA.ndu ~